Welsh Medium Education Boost

Work is beginning on £1.35 million pound project to boost Welsh medium education in the west of Swansea. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Welsh Government has given final business case approval for a curriculum led classroom remodelling scheme at Ysgol Gyfun Gŵyr. The project is jointly funded by Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools and Education programme and Swansea Council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The announcement means the main contractor – Swansea Council’s Corporate Building and Property Services (CBPS) team – can now move onto the site ready to start the improvements. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The project will be split into two phases to allow pupils to learn safely on site when they return to school in September and for the duration of the scheme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Jen Raynor , Cabinet member for Education , said: “This scheme aims to support pupil attainment by providing learners and staff with a safe, sound, and fit for purpose 21st Century learning environment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It also maximises the education benefits we can get from both the Ysgol Gyfun Gŵyr and currently empty former Gowerton Infant and Nursery sites. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The project will also have an extremely positive impact on the Welsh medium education in Swansea by providing the school with improved resources so it can meet demand and flourish ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Andrea Lewis, Cabinet member for Next Generation Services which includes school builds, said: “Our CBPS team will work closely with the school to minimise disruption to learning during the works which will also have community benefits including training and work experience opportunities as well as use of local suppliers where possible.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Gŵyr scheme will reuse and remodel the former Gowerton infant/nursery sites, which are vacant because the primary school moved into a purpose built new build in December 2015. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

That will give Gŵyr an additional 8 general classrooms, a more suitable 6th Form learning resource centre, replace a demountable structure with a brand new modular building and address the need for sufficient dining provision for all year groups ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There will also be remodelling and part refurbishment of the learning spaces within the existing Ysgol Gyfun Gŵyr site in Talbot Street to provide an extra general classroom, a science laboratory, and a secure foyer reception space. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The scheme is the latest in the 21st Century schools programme to help boost pupil attainment by improving learning environments and facilities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Gowerton Primary’s new build was also part of the scheme and a £9.8 million new school project for Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Lôn Las in Llansamlet is currently also underway. All projects have been supported by match funding from Welsh Government. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​